Sir Alex Ferguson and Manchester United close in on Serbian youngsters

Manchester United made a longawaited breakthrough last night in their bid to sign Zoran Tosic and Adem Ljajic, the two Serbian youngsters, in a combined £16.3 million deal from Partizan Belgrade.

The move was thrown into doubt last month because of Tosic’s wage demands and the number of agents trying to get involved in the transfer, prompting reports that Arsenal or Manchester City could hijack the deal. But it emerged last night that, after another day of negotiations, those potential snags have been overcome and that, barring a last-minute hitch, the joint move will be announced in the coming days.

Tosic, a 21-year-old winger, is expected to move to Old Trafford immediately, having been granted a work permit, although the timing of Ljajic’s arrival is…